GSA Teaching School Alliance

Sociology is the academic study of human social groups. It is concerned with a wide range of issues but at its heart it looks at the patterns of social groups such as social class, gender, ethnicity and age. It is a critical subject that looks at inequality, prejudice, stereotypes and power amongst other things. Below are the AQA objectives for their course.

Integral Elements

All the following must be an integral part of the study of each topic area:

sociological theories, perspectives and methods

the design of the research used to obtain the data under consideration, including its strengths and limitations.

Core Themes

Students must study the following two core themes:

socialisation, culture and identity

social differentiation, power and stratification.

The themes should be understood and applied to particular substantive areas of Sociology. These themes are to be interpreted broadly as threads running through many areas of social life and should not therefore be regarded as discrete topics.

In addition, students must understand the significance of conflict and consensus, social structure and social action, and the role of values.

Contemporary UK Society

The central focus of study in this specification should be on UK society today, with consideration given to comparative dimensions where relevant, including the siting of UK society within its globalised context.

The Course

Students selecting Sociology at George Spencer Academy follow the AQA Specification. Details of which can be found by following the links below:

In the first year the compulsory topics of the course are the Sociology of Education and research methods in Sociology. These will be taught with the optional topic of the Sociology of Families and Household.

In the second year the topics will be the Sociology of Religion, the Sociology of Crime & Deviance and Sociological Theory and Methods.

Assessment

The course will be examined by three 2 hour examinations. All three papers have a range of questions of varying lengths but the key feature is that essays represent 80% of the marks.

Skills

Students will develop key academic skills over the two years:

Knowledge and understanding of sociological research, arguments and theories.

Analysis of data, concepts and theories.

Evaluation of sociological data, concepts and theories with an emphasis on prioritisation and criticism.

Application of knowledge to sociological problems and issues.

Future Careers

Sociology has relevance to many careers in particular those which involve people orientated work such as Law, Education, Health, Social Services, Journalism, Charity Organisations, Business, Government, Work overseas.

NPQH

National Professional Qualification for Headship

Our NPQH is a unique and integrated course which not only focuses on the key skills needed for headship but is also informed by both national and international theory and practice. It's a high bar that will challenge and develop talented leaders from all backgrounds to deliver educational excellence.

This is a unique programme being delivered in full partnership with the University of Nottingham’s School of Education which could lead directly on to a MA in Educational Leadership and Management if you wish to continue your studies beyond NPQH. The University of Nottingham is a member of the elite Russell Group with one of the top research departments of education both nationally and internationally.

Our Programme

Our programme is delivered though a blended learning approach; a combination of face to face days, on-line learning , school experience, and self – directed study. As a competency based programme there is a focus throughout on the development of skills and understanding alongside leadership behaviours. Whilst on the programme day-to-day leadership development in your current school will allow you to:

Lead on a strategically challenging project

Engage in challenge and support from your coach and/or head teacher

Integrate new learning into your leadership practice

Develop those leadership behaviours identified through the 360 diagnostic

Those not currently working in a school will undertake these activities in the school(s) that they have identified, and who have committed to support them.

The course duration is 12 months, including the 9 day placement in a contrasting school, with an expectation that participants go for final assessment within 12-18 months from induction.

Use of a Leadership Diagnostic

All participants are required to complete a 360 leadership review based around key leadership behaviours. This enables participants to use feedback from peers, those they report to and those that report to them, to celebrate strengths and identify areas for development. Ideally, this review is completed prior to induction. At induction, coaches and participants consider how best to develop identified areas. We encourage the review to be redone at the end of the programme.

Face-to-Face Days

Facilitators, themselves excellent and inspiring leaders, quickly get to know you and your learning needs, following you through from induction to final assessment. Participants attend 10 face to face training days including induction and focussed school improvement days.

Final Assessment

In order to gain the NPQH qualification, participants are required to complete an assessment task in their own school.

Masters Credits

Our Leadership courses have been designed by, and are co-delivered with, the University of Nottingham. Participants on our programmes can gain exemption from up to two Masters modules of the University of Nottingham’s MA Educational Leadership and Management degree.

Cost

£1950 All charges include final assessment fees.

If you are a member of one of our partner or teaching school alliance schools, or making multiple bookings on behalf of a MAT or other cluster of schools, you may be eligible for up to a 10% discount.

Application Process

NOW - book your place with us onto NPQH. Read the guidance for, and look at the application form, to apply to be accepted onto NPQH. This process is called Gateway Assessment.

"The delivery by very approachable and knowledge providers was excellent! Thank you.""Good to have staff to talk to, to discuss each aspect of the application form and put this stage in context.""Chance to discuss the examples in my application...the overview of the whole process.""Detailed support through each section of application and opportunity to look at other successful applications.""I now know what to expect of the application, assessment and NPQH year. Thanks...and I will be applying to you."

We will forward it to our Gateway Assessment Provider. You should receive acknowledgement from us that we have received your application - if you do not please ring us to confirm. We cannot be held responsible for applications that do not appear in our email inbox.

End September 2017 - all applicants will be informed of the outcome of their Gateway Assessment application. Borderline applicants may be required to attend a face to face interview.

To reserve a place on this intake, please contact us to complete an initial booking form. Once you are successful at Gateway Assessment, we will ask you to complete the final stages of the booking process to confirm your place on the NPQH programme.

NPQSL

National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership

The NPQSL is an established qualification that provides national recognition of your leadership development and professional achievement as a senior leader. It is aimed at individuals who not only have responsibility for leading a team, but are also involved in leading across teams on a range of issues that affect the whole school or organisation. It is aimed at senior leaders, including experienced middle leaders, deputy heads, SENCOs and ASTs and other senior staff looking for further professional development but not yet within 18 months of headship. You do not have to have completed any prior leadership development programmes to embark upon this qualification.

The NPQSL qualification will support you in becoming a highly effective senior leader, with the skills, confidence and knowledge to contribute to the strategic development of your school or organisation as part of the senior leadership team.

Our Programme

Our programme is delivered though a blended learning approach; a combination of face to face days, on-line learning , school experience, and self –study and personal reading. As a competency based programme there is a focus throughout on the development of skills and understanding alongside leadership behaviours. Whilst on the programme day-to-day leadership development in your current school will allow you to:

lead on a strategically challenging project

engage in challenge and support from your coach and/or head teacher

integrate new learning into your leadership practice

develop those leadership behaviours identified through the 360 diagnostic

Those not currently working in a school will undertake these activities in the school(s) that they have identified, and who have committed to support them. The course duration is 12 months with an expectation that participants go for final assessment within 12-18 months from induction.

Use of a Leadership Diagnostic

All participants are required to complete a 360 leadership review based around key leadership behaviours. This enables participants to use feedback from peers, those they report to and those that report to them, to celebrate strengths and identify areas for development. Ideally, this review is completed prior to induction. At induction, coaches and participants consider how best to develop identified areas. We encourage the review to be redone at the end of the programme.

Face-to-Face Days

Facilitators, themselves excellent and inspiring leaders, quickly get to know you and your learning needs, following you through from induction to final assessment. Participants attend 7.5 face to face training days including induction and focussed school improvement days.

Final Assessment

In order to gain the NPQSL qualification, participants are required to complete an assessment task in their own school.

Masters Credits

Our Leadership courses have been designed by, and are co-delivered with, the University of Nottingham. Participants on our programmes can gain exemption from up to two Masters modules of the University of Nottingham's MA Educational Leadership and Management degree.

Cost

For schools with over 210 on roll, the cost of NPQSL is £1200.

For schools with less than 210 on roll, as identified by Edubase at the time of application, the cost is £1050.

These figures include the cost of the final assessment.

If you are a member of one of our partner or teaching school alliance schools, or making multiple bookings on behalf of a MAT or other cluster of schools, you may be eligible for up to a 10% discount.

Application Process

To reserve a place on this intake, please contact us to complete an initial booking form. We will then contact you to complete the application process and confirm your place.